Navigator on a ship: what is his profession, what does he do?

The word "navigator" is of Dutch origin and means "man at the helm". Representatives of this profession manage water, road and air transport. The navigator on the ship is one of the main members of the crew, he performs important functions.

The duties of the navigator

The list of job duties of a navigator includes:

1. Plotting the course.
2. Making appropriate notes in the chart of movements.
3. Monitoring the functioning of special instruments on which the movement of the ship depends.

This is one of the oldest professions, dating back to the Middle Ages. In those distant times, ships were the primary means of transportation. To successfully cross the seas with the oceans, they invented special instruments that had a navigational function. They are inferior to modern navigators, but for that period it was a great solution.

The captain could not keep track of everything that was happening on the ship, so a new profession emerged. The navigators were required to know mathematics, astronomy. The first representatives of this profession appeared long ago, but they became most in demand in the 18th and 19th centuries, during the times of colonies and empires.

The profession of navigator is trained in specialized educational institutions. Connoisseurs of navigation systems are very much in demand today. It is impossible to imagine a modern ship without a captain and a navigator. Representatives of this profession even have their own holiday, in the navy it is celebrated on a wide scale.

Many admirals began their career precisely with the position of navigator. This member of the sea crew must be well oriented on the ground, to ensure that the ship moved in accordance with the given route. Without a navigator, it would be difficult for captains to cope with steering the ship. This profession has a direct link to vehicle control.

Navigators are in demand not only in the navy. Their services are indispensable in aviation, on the racing circuit (not sea navigators, of course). Representatives of this profession operate ships and submarines, and bathyscaphes. They are awarded the title of ship navigator.

The navigator is assigned the duty to display the route of the ship or submarine on the map. He makes sure that the navigational instruments are functioning properly. Without them, the ship could go off the route and lose time.

The navigator can be called the second captain of the sailing vessel. This person is able to steer the ship independently or with the help of a team.

The profession emerged hundreds of years ago - in the period of the Great Geographical Discoveries, immediately after the invention of navigation instruments. The navigator knows how to use them perfectly well, this specialist is also familiar with pilotage.

All modern ships have navigators who assist captains in operating navigation facilities. Representatives of this profession have decent wages.